Igboho’s travail, Malami’s denial, other events last week, their implications
Kukah’s bombshell, riotous NASS, other events last week, their implications
Buhari’s endless vows, UK govt warning, other events last week, their implications
Nigeria’s media space has been saturated since last week with news of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, allegedly receiving a $1 million dollar bribe from a notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popular known as Hushpuppi.
This and some other stories, including court acquittal of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, made our pick in this week Politics Roundup.
We looked at these stories and examined their implications on the nation’s growth and why they should matter.
1. DCP Kyari’s ‘mess’
kyari
DCP Abba Kyari
On Thursday, July 29, Nigerians were embarrassed with reports of a United States’ court issuing a warrant of arrest against Nigeria’s super cop, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.
Otis Wright of the US District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to track down Mr Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in a multi-million-dollar fraud perpetrated by Ramon Abbas, popularly known as ‘Hushpuppi’, a notorious internet fraudster.
Mr Kyari has denied the allegations but effort to extradite him to the US to face court in order to prove his innocence is still ongoing.
Implications
Though Kyari is not yet proven guilty of the allegation against him, the news alone is already an embarrassment to Nigeria and the police force. And to the country of this shame, the supper cop has to make himself available before the US court to prove his innocence.
If in the end he is found guilty as accused, his case will only buttress how messy corruption in Nigeria has become.
It will also show how those in positions of power in Nigeria pretentiously use it for their own selfish aggrandizement.
2. El-Zakzaky’s acquittal
Ibraheem El-Zakzaky
On Wednesday, July 28, a Kaduna State High Court discharged and acquitted the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat.
Their eventual freedom came after the Buhari-led government and the Department of State Security (DSS) had on several occasions disobeyed court orders on the release of the IMN leader.
Justice Gideon Kurada discharged them from the eight charges pressed against them by the Kaduna State government for lack of merit.
Implications
It is very painful and unfortunate that after staying over five years in DSS custody, and the lives that were lost as a result of this case, the court saw no merit in the charges against the Muslim cleric and his wife.
The new charges bothering on terrorism being levelled against the IMN leader, according to many, is a mere afterthought and renewed efforts to return him back to custody.
The outcome of the case is a humiliation to those who rejected different orders for his release and allowed him to remain incarcerated for charges that amounted to nothing.
3. APC’s albatross
Governor Mai Mala Buni
On Wednesday, July 28, the Supreme Court declared Mai Mala Buni chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress as illegal.
According to the Supreme Court, Buni as a sitting governor of Yobe State cannot hold the dual elective position of a governor and a party national chairman.
This was pointed out when the court affirmed the election victory of Rotimi Akeredolu, as the Governor of Ondo State.
Implications
It is clear Buni has become an albatross for the ruling APC and the party needs to take urgent action to free itself from the burden.
However, the event in the APC shows the level of impunity in politics in Nigeria as laws of the land are often disregarded by politicians in their decision making.
The governing party certainly needs to put its house in order to avoid implosion as a result of wrong decisions.
4. Afe Babalola worries
Afe Babalola (SAN)
On Monday, July 26, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola (SAN), called on stakeholders in the country to ensure that a new truly federal constitution, with provision for parliamentary government replaces the 1999 Constitution before the 2023 general elections.
He worried that anything to the contrary would amount to the country “recycling the same failed leaders that have brought Nigeria to where it is today”.
He added, “Those who wish this country to remain an indivisible entity must unite to ensure that we replace the present 1999 Constitution with a truly federal constitution and a parliamentary system of government which is more involving and less expensive.”
A statement made available by ABUAD said he made the comment in his goodwill message as the special guest of honour at the Fifth Ife Institute of Advanced Studies, Summer Institute Programme.
Implications
Babalola simply reinforce the cries of many Nigerians demanding the restructuring of the country. While it is good for him to make his worries known, at least for the records, however, there is nothing showing that the current government is ready to heed the concerns of the senior advocate and his likes.
What this suggests is that Nigerians should brace up to have, yet again, the same failed leaders running the affairs of the country.
5. Buhari’s medical tourism
President Muhammadu Buhari
On Monday, July 26, President Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria for a medical check-up in London, the United Kingdom.
A statement by the president’s media adviser, Femi Adesina, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari will today Monday, July 26, 2021, travel to the United Kingdom to participate in the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2021-2025.
“After the summit, the president will spend a few days for an earlier scheduled medical check-up. He is due back by the second week of August 2021″.
Implications
The fact that Buhari could have participated in the Global Education Summit virtually from Nigeria, suggests he travelled to London majorly for his medical check-up.
While is good for the president to attend to his health, however, his constant medical trip abroad shows how Nigeria’s health sector has been neglected and abandoned, so much that Buhari and other government officials tour foreign countries to seek medical attention over every kind of ailment.
That a Buhari, who had in 2014, during a speech at the Chatham House, London, promised that neither he nor members of his administration would waste tax-payers money to seek medical attention outside the country, is now embarking on medical tourism abroad every now and then tells how politicians in Nigeria treat the issue of integrity.
Now resident doctors are back on strike due to several cases of broken promises by the government. The masses will have to suffer the consequences of the strike action while government officials and their family members hop into the next available flight to fix their health abroad.
First News Online
